Public Health England has revealed that tackling obesity is one of the greatest long-term health challenges facing the South East (SE), as 34 per cent of all Year 6 children living in the region are classed as overweight or obese.
A staggering 31,615 children aged 10-11 are classified as overweight or obese in the SE region for 2021/22, a figure that has risen by 15 per cent since the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the highest count of overweight or obese children aged 10-11 ever recorded in the South East, according to local eating disorder experts at UKAT.
Local impact
On the Isle of Wight there has been a 52 per cent rise in the last year of the number of Year 6 children (10/11-year-olds) classified as being overweight or obese – from 270 to 410.
Our neighbours in Portsmouth saw a 14 per cent rise in the same period, from 800 to 915, whilst Southampton saw the largest increase of the three areas – a whopping 90 per cent rise from 560 to 1,060 children.
Across the SE region
The number of Year 6 children classed as severely obese in the South East has risen significantly, from 2,945 in 2019/20 to 4,120 in 2021/22, a 40 per cent rise.
These children now account for 4.4 per cent of all Year 6 children in the region, the highest proportion ever recorded, with figures going back as far as 2006/07.
Analysis of the new data by UKAT also reveals that the number of children in reception – aged just 4-5 years old, classed as overweight and including obese rose from 14,485 in 2019/20 to 18,330 in 2021/22, a 26 per cent rise since the pandemic.
Health consequences of childhood obesity
Eating disorder experts at UKAT have warned about the health consequences of childhood obesity, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and exacerbation of conditions such as asthma.
They also highlighted the psychological problems that can come with obesity at a young age, including social isolation, low self-esteem, and bullying.
Albuquerque: Psychological problems
Nuno Albuquerque (pictured below), Head of Treatment for the UKAT Group comments;
“Our concern is for the physical and mental well-being of children who are overweight or living with obesity. The health consequences of childhood obesity include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and exacerbation of conditions like asthma, to name a few.
“But the psychological problems that come with obesity at such a young age include social isolation, low self-esteem and bullying, all factors that go hand in hand with the development of an eating disorder.”
Albuquerque: A progressive illness that worsens over time
Nuno went on to say,
“We treat people aged 16 and over for eating disorders, and the vast majority of those began their unhealthy relationship with food during their childhood.
“For some, over-eating is not a choice, it is a progressive illness that worsens over time and can be extremely dangerous. These figures clearly show that children’s eating habits worsened during the global pandemic and as a society, we need to tackle this head on as a priority.”
Confidential help and support
24/7 confidential help and support with understanding eating disorders is available through UKAT, see their Website for more information.
Classifications
For population monitoring purposes children are classified as overweight (including obesity) if their body mass index (BMI) is on or above the 85th centile of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) according to age and sex.
For population monitoring purposes children are classified as living with severe obesity if their body mass index (BMI) is on or above the 99.6th centile of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) according to age and sex.
